I got an email over the weekend from Vancouver teacher Carrie Gelson, along with a copy of a letter she wrote about the troubles in her inner-city school, where many children are poor, some are neglected and most need more than just a basic education.

“From where I sit every day, things are not okay,” wrote Gelson, a master teacher who has worked in Seymour elementary for 16 years. The letter is addressed simply to the people of Vancouver and includes a plea for help. Her school desperately needs socks for children who have none, shoes to replace those with holes and recess snacks to fill hungry bellies.

More than anything, it needs to hear from people who care.

Gelson wrote the letter after a particularly frustrating day and sent it to a few friends, who began circulating it on the internet. She also sent it to me and I wrote a story that was published in the paper today (Monday). Find my story here and find Gelson’s letter here.

When I turned on my blackberry this morning, I had a flood of emails from generous people offering help. I will continue to update this blog during the day to let you know how this story unfolds. Meanwhile, if you want to help, you can contact the school vice-principal Lani Morden at 604-713-4641 or lmorden@vsb.bc.ca or you can send money directly to the school

Seymour elementary

1130 Keefer Street

Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1Z3

Gelson asks that you send it to the attention of “inner-city school needs.” She also reminds us that her school isn’t the only one that needs help – there are many other inner-city schools and I will post a list here soon.

Gelson, meanwhile, has been contacted by other media outlets and thus will have a chance to spread the word even further.